I'd trade fast paced/high scoring for defense

uihawk82 said:
What happened to the defensive effort against MIch just two weeks ago.

We look so confused now, not switching well, two guys guarding air when in zone, helping when not needed and leaving guys open.

Fran looks very frustrated like he is reaching at straws with subbing and player roles.
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High scoring comes from a strong defense usually. Didn't happen the past 2 games though.
 
JHHawk said:
You cannot ignore the 3 games in 6 days with lots of travel factor. That is not normal for teams late in the year. We have played tired this week, and rusty vs Wis.....all due to that falling beam.

Sorry, but Fran is still in transition....the fast paced style requires more athletes, and he is still working with guys who do not fit his style of ball. He will attract more athletes as we go along because athletes like to play fast.
At Siena, he had lots of quick 6'6'' type of wing guys....not yet at Iowa....but they will come. If we were playing slow, we would never attract the kinds of athletes to win big.
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Yep. It doesn't matter how many players you play if they are all lackadaisical from travel before the game even starts.
 
I suppose I could be considered a whore to winning because I'll cheer on any style that results in win.

Had Lickball won games... I woulda been cheering. Give up 100 points... no problem by me as long as we score 101.
 
I don't see why we can't play an uptempo offense yet lock it down on defense. This team wants to get up and down the court so be it. Pick up the defensive intensity to get a few more TOs, or do a better job on the boards to get out in transition.

I don't necessarily think we've abandoned playing defense. I simply think we're focused too much on scoring points then playing smart defense. Let the defense intensity lead to transition baskets rather than focusing on the offensive side of things. I think we've been letting up defensively because we're too worried about scoring and keeping the offense productive.
 
Fran seemed to focus on two problems:

1. Offensive players putting their heads down and driving rather than looking for the open man.
2. Defensive players getting back, but not knowing who was on the court and getting into the corresponding right spots.


Both problems seem pretty easy to solve. In fact, I wonder why they are problems at this point in the season. Both seem related to playing too many guys. On offense, they feel like they have to make their contribution while they are in there. On defense, they are not tuned into the game because their own players are always changing. Now is not the point in the season to be figuring out who should be on the court.
 
I honestly think that they think they are so good at scoring points that its not a big deal if the other team scores. They don't play every possession like it matters. I think that's why we give up so many big leads. Once we get the lead we let up.
 
I just don't understand...Fran wants to play up tempo offense...the easiest/most effective way to do that is intense defense...force the opponent into turnovers...LOTS of turnovers...yet we don't close out...and just generally are apathetic anymore on D.
 
It's not about playing 3 games in 7 days...that's got nothing to do with this streak. We had almost two weeks off (played one game) prior to this stretch and we play 9 or 10 guys. Fatigue has nothing to do with the poor defense. Mental mistakes and lack of focus has alot to do with this...oh, and guys making shots on the other team is another thing. You couple the lack of defensive focus and here we are. I think Fran also wanted the team to play as uptempo as possible to wear the other teams down...what he didn't anticipate is Minny dropping 9 of their first 11 threes and Sheely somehow becoming a superhero. We didn't play well, and I think Fran needs to look in the mirror here a bit. I think he's been outcoached the past two games.
 
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